Chapter Summaries

Fang Han defeated Jia Four in a fierce battle, but the Dark Abyss assassin escaped using a mid-grade Divine Speed Jade Talisman. Two days later, Fang Han returned to the Azure Profound Sect and met with Chen Tianyuan, who warned that Dark Abyss might still be targeting him.

• Fang Han struck Jia Four with a series of attacks, overpowering him in strength and speed and leaving him badly wounded.
• Jia Four used a mid-grade Divine Speed Jade Talisman to flee, and Fang Han failed to track him after the assassin concealed his aura.
• Fang Han decided the battle would likely make Dark Abyss reconsider its commission and continued on to Qingyang Prefecture.
• Two days later, Fang Han returned to the Azure Profound Sect and went directly to the Sect Master's Hall.
• Chen Tianyuan greeted Fang Han with concern and questioned why he had returned while Dark Abyss might still be pursuing him.

Fang Han returned to the Azure Profound Sect and revealed that he had driven off a Dark Abyss master assassin, then learned Thunderlight Pavilion had placed the contract on him. After consulting Gu Changqing, he agreed to postpone revenge on Fan Yuan until he was strong enough to kill him without risking the sect.

• Fang Han told Chen Tianyuan that he could now fight ordinary masters and had driven off a Dark Abyss assassin on his way back.
• Chen Tianyuan gave Fang Han a letter revealing that Thunderlight Pavilion had funded the assassination contract, and Fang Han suppressed his desire for revenge.
• Chen Tianyuan warned Fang Han that Thunderlight Pavilion's master, Fan Yuan, was a veteran who would be difficult to kill, and took him to consult Gu Changqing.
• Gu Changqing explained that Fan Yuan likely had life-saving trump cards and that a failed attempt could leave him free to threaten the Azure Profound Sect from the shadows.
• Fang Han agreed not to act against Fan Yuan until he possessed enough strength to ensure his victory.

After returning to the Azure Profound Sect, Fang Han planned to loot Thunderlight Pavilion’s businesses to build his wealth and collect interest for its assassination attempt. Dark Abyss canceled the commission after Jia Four reported that Fang Han had defeated him, leaving Lei Qianting furious when he learned the news.

• Fang Han returned to No. 35 Annex and decided he could not yet take revenge on Thunderlight Pavilion directly, but could loot its industries to raise his System Panel wealth toward ten million gold.
• Jia Four returned to Dark Abyss headquarters wounded and recounted how Fang Han had overpowered him and forced him to escape with a Divine Speed Jade Talisman.
• Jia One ordered Dark Abyss to cancel the assassination commission against Fang Han, and Jia Four reluctantly accepted the decision.
• Lei Qianting visited a Dark Abyss contact and learned the commission had been canceled despite his raising the reward to thirty million taels of gold.

Lei Qianting learned that Dark Abyss had canceled Fang Han’s assassination commission after its master assassin failed, while Fang Han spent several days cultivating in the Azure Profound Sect and decided to plunder Thunderlight Pavilion’s properties. He planned to buy intelligence from Rain Listening Tower under a disguise and went to the supplies office to obtain a new Human Skin Mask.

• Lei Qianting collected his commission payment from Dark Abyss and left, shaken by Fang Han’s strength and potential.
• Fang Han cultivated in No. 35 Annex for several days and concluded Dark Abyss had abandoned its assassination attempt.
• Fang Han decided to target Thunderlight Pavilion’s properties for wealth and planned to purchase intelligence from Rain Listening Tower without revealing his identity to the sect.
• Fang Han put away his old Human Skin Mask and went to the supplies office to buy a replacement.
• Liu Hui welcomed Fang Han and presented several of the supplies office’s finest Human Skin Masks.

Fang Han bought detailed intelligence on Thunderlight Pavilion's properties from Rain Listening Tower in Lin'an City and decided to target its five largest holdings. He reached the pavilion's gold mine in East Foothills Prefecture and watched its defenses, planning to strike after nightfall.

• Fang Han bought a better Human Skin Mask from Liu Hui, then left the Azure Profound Sect disguised as an ordinary man.
• Fang Han traveled to Lin'an City and paid Steward Zhou two million taels for detailed intelligence on every property belonging to Thunderlight Pavilion.
• After studying the intelligence, Fang Han chose to target Thunderlight Pavilion's five largest properties first, beginning with its gold mine.
• More than a day later, Fang Han reached the gold mine in East Foothills Prefecture and observed its guards, patrols, and powerful martial artists without revealing himself.
• Fang Han memorized the mine's defenses and waited for nightfall before making his move.

Fang Han raided Thunderlight Pavilion’s gold mine, Medicine Garden, Thunder-Iron Mine, and silver mine, stealing their stored goods and raising his wealth to 9.93 million gold. Near dawn, he reached Thunderlight Trading Company in East Foothills Prefecture City to raid his fifth target.

• Fang Han infiltrated the gold mine, killed six guards, and stole stored gold worth 200,000 gold before escaping.
• Fang Han entered the Medicine Garden, killed four guards, and took herbs that added 180,000 gold to his wealth.
• Fang Han raided the Thunder-Iron Mine, used Wind Sword Intent to kill eight guards, and stole refined Thunder Iron worth 220,000 gold.
• Fang Han robbed the silver mine and gained 150,000 gold, bringing his wealth to 9.93 million gold.
• Fang Han crossed East Foothills Prefecture City’s wall and reached Thunderlight Trading Company’s rear warehouses before dawn.

Fang Han looted Thunderlight Pavilion’s trading company warehouse, bringing his wealth to 10.18 million gold, then rested before heading for another target. Lei Qianting learned that all five of the pavilion’s major industries had been robbed and ordered supplies moved back to the sect, while Fang Han reached a city with a Thunderlight Pavilion medicinal-herb shop.

• Fang Han emptied the trading company warehouse and raised his wealth to 10.18 million gold.
• Fang Han hid in a forest cave, ate, and restored his Internal Qi with the Greenwood Poison-Avoidance Scripture.
• Lei Qianting received reports that the gold mine, Medicine Garden, Thunder-Iron Mine, silver mine, and Thunderlight Trading Company had all been robbed overnight.
• Lei Qianting sent Yu Yuan to investigate the gold mine and ordered the pavilion’s industries to move their stored supplies back to the sect.
• Fang Han left the cave and traveled to a city where he located a Thunderlight Pavilion shop that bought medicinal herbs.

Fang Han raided several Thunderlight Pavilion businesses, gathering valuable goods before discovering that the Pavilion had begun moving its supplies. He returned toward Qingyang Prefecture, while Lei Qianting ordered an investigation into the five rival forces he suspected of orchestrating the raids.

• Fang Han raided a herb shop and a materials shop, taking their stored goods and increasing his wealth.
• Before nightfall, Fang Han raided a weapons shop and a grain store, then continued north toward another Thunderlight Pavilion business.
• Fang Han found the beast-hide and bone warehouse empty, realized supplies were being transferred, and headed back toward Qingyang Prefecture.
• Lei Qianting learned that four more medium-sized businesses had been raided and that the losses across the Pavilion exceeded one hundred million taels of silver.
• Lei Qianting dismissed Azure Profound Sect as the likely culprit and ordered the Intelligence Hall to investigate the five other major forces in East Foothills Prefecture.

Fang Han returned to the Azure Profound Sect, spent ten million gold to raise his Sword Art Talent Amplification to 512x, and used his enhanced comprehension to advance the Great Void Wind God Sword to Minor Mastery. The chapter ended with his transformed Wind Sword Intent demonstrating power strong enough to split the air.

• Fang Han returned to No. 35 Annex and recovered from his journey by bathing and restoring his Internal Qi.
• Fang Han used ten million gold to raise his Sword Art Talent Amplification from 256x to 512x.
• Fang Han found that the Great Void Wind God Sword's principles had become much clearer and expected to reach Minor Mastery soon.
• After more than ten days of practice, Fang Han broke through the final barrier and advanced the Great Void Wind God Sword to Minor Mastery.
• Fang Han tested his stronger Wind Sword Intent and sliced through the air, leaving thin black fissures behind.

Fang Han tested his greatly strengthened swordsmanship and considered whether he could help Gu Changqing kill Fan Yuan, but decided to wait until he had more power. At Nether Pavilion, Ling Wuyuan emerged from seclusion and announced that he had become a grandmaster.

• Fang Han unleashed a full-strength sword strike that cleaved a stone slope and ancient trees, judging that his minor-mastery Great Void Wind God Sword had increased his strength by more than tenfold.
• Fang Han considered joining Supreme Elder Gu Changqing to kill Fan Yuan, but decided he still lacked the strength to prevent the veteran grandmaster from escaping.
• Fang Han sensed that his Internal Qi was running low after the strike, though he was nearing the late first-rank bottleneck.
• Ling Wuyuan's aura erupted from Nether Pavilion's secret chamber, drawing Supreme Elder Li Hanjiang and Deputy Pavilion Master Li Wushang to the door.
• Ling Wuyuan emerged looking younger, and he confirmed to Li Wushang and Li Hanjiang that he had become a grandmaster.

Ling Wuyuan became a Grandmaster, giving the Nether Pavilion two Grandmasters, and its leaders agreed to gradually weaken the Azure Profound Sect without provoking a desperate retaliation. Fang Han learned of the breakthrough but remained confident that the Azure Profound Sect could withstand the threat, while he prepared to seek more cultivation pills.

• Ling Wuyuan confirmed his Grandmaster breakthrough, and Li Wushang and Li Hanjiang celebrated that the Nether Pavilion now had two Grandmasters.
• Li Wushang urged an attack on the Azure Profound Sect, and Ling Wuyuan agreed that the balance of strength had shifted in their favor.
• Li Hanjiang warned against driving Gu Changqing to fight to the death, so Ling Wuyuan chose to weaken and suppress the Azure Profound Sect gradually.
• Ling Wuyuan told Li Wushang to plan how to use news of his breakthrough, while Fang Han refined his Earth Spirit Pill and nearly filled his Yongquan Acupoint.
• Fang Han ran out of Earth Spirit Pills and decided to exchange for more, then Qui Lan told him Ling Wuyuan had become a Grandmaster.
• Fang Han remained unworried, believing his strength could protect the Azure Profound Sect from the Nether Pavilion's new Grandmaster.

Fang Han agreed to display his Grandmaster-level strength at Ling Wuyuan’s Grandmaster Banquet to deter Nether Pavilion, and traveled there with Chen Tianyuan and other Azure Profound Sect members. The group arrived at Nether Pavilion and was led to their accommodations amid hostile stares.

• Fang Han reassured Qui Lan that Nether Pavilion could not threaten Azure Profound Sect and had her exchange a major merit for fifteen bottles of Earth Spirit Pills.
• Chen Tianyuan told Fang Han that Nether Pavilion was harassing Azure Profound Sect’s industries after Ling Wuyuan became a Grandmaster, then ordered Fang Han to challenge him at the banquet.
• Fang Han agreed to reveal his Grandmaster-level combat strength and left with Chen Tianyuan, Luo Yuntian, Yun Muyao, and three elders the next morning.
• White Tiger carried the Azure Profound Sect group to Nether Pavilion, where Li Wushang greeted them and arranged for a steward to guide them to their accommodations.
• Nether Pavilion disciples watched Fang Han with hostility as the Azure Profound Sect group crossed the mountain.

At Nether Pavilion’s Grandmaster Banquet, Ling Wuyuan demonstrated that he had truly reached the Grandmaster realm, deepening the pressure on the Azure Profound Sect and the other factions. Fang Han then challenged Ling Wuyuan, leaving the hall stunned as Chen Wanjun and Yun Muyao tried to stop him.

• The Seven Sects gathered at Nether Pavilion, where the Azure Profound Sect faced coldness from other factions because of its poor relationship with Nether Pavilion.
• Ling Wuyuan entered the banquet hall and displayed an aura that confirmed he had become a Grandmaster.
• Fang Han rose from his seat and asked Ling Wuyuan to exchange moves with him.
• Representatives from the other factions reacted with shock and disbelief to Fang Han’s challenge.
• Chen Wanjun and Yun Muyao hurried to Fang Han and urged him not to act rashly.

Fang Han challenged Ling Wuyuan at the Nether Pavilion and overwhelmed him with sword strikes that carried Grandmaster-level power. Ling Wuyuan was left kneeling, badly wounded, in the shattered arena.

• Ling Wuyuan accepted Fang Han's challenge and ordered Li Wushang to lead the sect leaders to the Nether Pavilion's Martial Arts Arena.
• Ling Wuyuan offered Fang Han the first move, and Fang Han charged with his Great Void Wind God Sword.
• Fang Han's opening strikes broke through Ling Wuyuan's Nether Profound Palm and wounded his shoulder, shocking the gathered sect leaders with his Grandmaster-level combat power.
• Fang Han pressed his advantage with a relentless sword assault, driving Ling Wuyuan backward and tearing his robe and left sleeve.
• Fang Han unleashed a final hundred-zhang Sword Qi strike that hurled Ling Wuyuan into a crater, where he knelt badly wounded.

Fang Han defeated Ling Wuyuan with a single sword strike, revealing strength beyond that of an ordinary Grandmaster and astonishing the Martial Arts Arena. Li Hanjiang resolved to kill Fang Han, but Gu Changqing appeared beside him and thwarted any chance of an attack.

• Fang Han left Ling Wuyuan gravely wounded at the bottom of the crater, and the assembled guests and sect members realized he had surpassed a newly advanced Grandmaster.
• Chen Wanjun, Yun Muyao, Luo Yuntian, and others reacted with shock as they recognized how far Fang Han had advanced in half a year.
• Chen Tianyuan admitted he had known Fang Han possessed Grandmaster-level combat power, but was astonished that Fang Han had decisively crushed Ling Wuyuan.
• Li Hanjiang arrived, saw Fang Han's victory, and silently decided that Nether Pavilion had to kill him before he grew stronger.
• Gu Changqing appeared beside Li Hanjiang, making clear that he had come to guard Fang Han, and Li Hanjiang withdrew his killing intent.

After Fang Han defeated Ling Wuyuan at the Nether Pavilion’s Grandmaster Banquet, Gu Changqing forced Li Hanjiang to abandon plans against him by threatening Ling Wuyuan in return. Back at the Azure Profound Sect, Fang Han was warned that Li Hanjiang remained dangerous, so he focused on advancing his cultivation to protect himself.

• Gu Changqing warned Li Hanjiang that he would retaliate against Ling Wuyuan if the Nether Pavilion acted against Fang Han, and Li Hanjiang agreed to end their dealings with the Azure Profound Sect.
• The Grandmaster Banquet ended in disgrace for the Nether Pavilion, and Ling Wuyuan vowed to remember his humiliation.
• After returning to the Azure Profound Sect, Fang Han received two major merits for defeating Ling Wuyuan.
• Gu Changqing warned Fang Han that Li Hanjiang might still risk acting against him and advised him not to leave the sect unless necessary.
• Fang Han resolved to strengthen himself, took Earth Spirit Pills, and devoted his days to cultivating Internal Qi.

Fang Han broke through to late First Rank, awakened automatic Internal Qi circulation, and shattered the Physical Barrier, dramatically increasing his strength and defense. He concluded that he could now contend with veteran grandmasters, including Li Hanjiang.

• Fang Han filled the Yongquan Acupoint and broke through the barrier to the Shenque Acupoint, reaching late First Rank.
• Fang Han awakened automatic Internal Qi circulation, allowing his Internal Qi to recover gradually even when he was not cultivating.
• Fang Han sensed and shattered the Physical Barrier after reaching late First Rank and mastering the Black Tortoise True Art.
• Fang Han condensed his scattered qi and blood into controllable liquid, which greatly strengthened his body when directed to his limbs and torso.
• Fang Han judged that his combat strength had increased dozens of times and that he could now contend with veteran grandmasters such as Li Hanjiang.

Fang Han visited Yun Qianyue and Lan Yuexin after pausing his cultivation, while news of his victory over Ling Wuyuan reached Thunderlight Pavilion. Fearing Fang Han would eventually destroy the pavilion, Fan Yuan ordered Lei Qianting to arrange his assassination before he grew stronger.

• Fang Han watched Yun Qianyue practice swordsmanship in Zi Courtyard, then left after spending half an hour with her.
• Fang Han visited Lan Yuexin at Hundred Treasures Pavilion and shared tea and pastries with her before departing.
• Lei Qianting received a report that Fang Han had defeated the Grandmaster Ling Wuyuan and feared Fang Han might discover Thunderlight Pavilion's assassination commission.
• Lei Qianting told Fan Yuan about the failed attempts to kill Fang Han and the thirty-million-tael reward offered for a Grandmaster-level assassin.
• Fan Yuan decided Thunderlight Pavilion had to eliminate Fang Han before he became strong enough to threaten the pavilion, and Lei Qianting agreed.

Fang Han focused on improving Nether Guide and Shadowveil, advancing both secret techniques and bringing Nether Guide to Perfection Realm. He then began studying the grandmaster-level Soul-Chasing Art, which could track living beings by sensing their souls.

• Fang Han decided to concentrate on cultivating Nether Guide and Shadowveil to better detect threats and conceal himself from grandmasters.
• Fang Han advanced Nether Guide to Greater Accomplishment, extending its sensory range to fifteen li and sharpening his perception of hidden auras.
• Fang Han improved Shadowveil to Minor Accomplishment, gaining the ability to approach a newly advanced grandmaster like Ling Wuyuan without being detected.
• Fang Han advanced Nether Guide to Perfection Realm, expanding his perception to twenty li and detecting even concealed grandmasters within that range.
• Fang Han took out the grandmaster-level Soul-Chasing Art and spent a day studying and memorizing its principles and cultivation method.

Fang Han cultivated the Soul-Chasing Art and learned to sense soul fluctuations, then set out for the Fang Clan with Fang Yingxue for the New Year. On the road, he sensed a Grandmaster ahead and decided to confront the threat before it could endanger his clan.

• Fang Han sensed his own soul fluctuations and, after several days of cultivation, used the Soul-Chasing Art to detect people and animals nearby.
• Fang Han stopped his secret-technique training as winter arrived and had Qui Lan prepare New Year goods and cultivation pills for the Fang Clan.
• Fang Han left for Liangshui City with Fang Yingxue, whose cultivation had advanced to the late Ninth Grade during her first year at the Azure Profound Sect.
• More than a hundred li from Liangshui City, Fang Han sensed a Grandmaster ahead using the Nether Guide.
• Fang Han rejected the idea of detouring because the Grandmaster might attack the Fang Clan, and resolved to learn whether the stranger had come for him.